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Western civilization attained modernity after the reformation of the Judeo-Christian traditions. Waking up from the Christian church’s suffocating grip, the distinction between the secular and the spiritual emerged. Centuries of sectarian infighting among Europe’s Christians further strengthened secularization. However, the weakening of ties with God throughout modern history opened a Pandora’s box of relativistic ideologies with nothing permanent to hold on to. Secular societies, despite their spectacular success in science, economic development, good governance, and free societies, face many social ills from an Islamic morals standpoint: Degradation of environment, breakup of traditional family, children born and raised by unmarried mothers without a male role model, rising divorce rate, decreasing population due to low birth rates, liberal abortions, alcoholism and premature deaths, drug abuse, and above all money as the real god.

There are strong indications that now, when so much focus is on the Near and Middle East, Islamic societies are rising from prolonged slumber and partial stagnation. This is in the wake of exploitation during the colonial era, followed by repressive regimes. Developing Islamic countries are at a crossroads. Do they need to follow secularism with its positive attributes and negative associated effects or develop a hybrid society based upon the egalitarianism of Islam? This is where profit margins are not the only bottom line, protecting the environment and maintaining traditional family where children can grow up in safe and secure environment.

Islam is not an obstacle to freedom, science, or economic development, as Muslim societies pioneered all three. This was witnessed during the Golden Age of Islam. Many principles underlying freedom are stated in the Quran, such as freedom of religion, individual rights, and government by consent.

Like all great religions, Islam has also passed through many stages of development. Throughout its history, the community has had to respond to internal and external threats to its continued life and vitality. As a result, Islam has a long tradition of religious renewal and reform. Islamic societies are built on the norm and the fundamental matrix established by the Prophet at Medina. It does not mean Muslims have to revert to seventh century living. On the contrary, the first Islamic government established by the Prophet is an ideal starting point upon which modern Islamic societies can continue to build and evolve in determining a just and moral order.

Renewal also requires the removal of un-Islamic historical accretions or unwarranted innovations that have corrupted community life, such as laws condoning sectarianism, suppressing women’s rights, and un-Islamic punishment for blasphemy and apostasy, among others.

It is Islam’s role in public life that serves as a moral anchor to avert some of the social ills plaguing secular societies. An ideal Islamic community of the future will combine the virtues of both worlds: relatively free societies with lower social ills. This volume of the Quran series studies all the basic principles on which a modern progressive Islamic state can form.